Pre-paid service plans?

[ScottyR81]

One day this week I'll be collecting my '18 C63 and have been looking at Mercedes' service plans as my XC90 came with one purchased by the previous owner. Are they worth having in your opinion?

I think the one I found was £46 per month for three years and included three services...

 

[markjay]

One day this week I'll be collecting my '18 C63 and have been looking at Mercedes' service plans as my XC90 came with one purchased by the previous owner. Are they worth having in your opinion?

I think the one I found was £46 per month for three years and included three services...

Yes, the Mercedes Service Care Plan is based on fixed-price servicing and offers good value:

Service Plan

servicecare.mercedes-benz.co.uk

There's no difference in price-per-service, by the way, if you take a 2-service, 3-service, or 4-service plan, so choose the option best suited for you.

At the same time you might also want to strike a relationship with a reputable indie who specialises in AMG cars (there are a few forum sponsors that fit the bill), for any work that might be needed and which isn't covered by the MB Service Care Plan (or for modifications etc).

 

[ToeKnee]

I have a large B service coming up, followed by a standard A then another big B service. Pricing up the service plan compared to local independent shows that Mercedes will be around £200 dearer over the three years, but mercedes does come with their breakdown service Mobilo. The point off this post is see what services are required, will be a lot cheaper at indie if your next services are, for instance, A-B-A but possibly better value at Mercedes if, like me, you have large B-A- large B.

 

[markjay]

...The point off this thread is see what services are required, will be a lot cheaper at indie if your next services are, for instance, A-B-A but possibly better value at Mercedes if, like me, you have large B-A- large B.

Spot on.

 

[Neiltodd]

I went with the 3 services at £46 monthly, was about to have the 3rd just as lockdown started, fairly good value overall especially as the price hasn't increased since I took mine out.

 

[AMV]

I would first look at the service intervals and think how long you plan on owning the car.

It may turn out that in the next 24/36 months you car may not require a spark plug/ATF/Brake fluid change therefore it might be cheaper not to get the service plan.

 

[ScottyR81]

I wondered if you got a preferred rate from MB for signing up to a service plan?

If you don't then looking from more of a Martin Lewis point of view am I better off to add a saving's account to my bank and put £46 per month in there instead perhaps?

 

[markjay]

Pre-paid service plans?

BTW, being pedantic, the services are not actually 'pre-paid', quite the opposite in fact, their are paid in 24/36/72 instalments.

 

[markjay]

I wondered if you got a preferred rate from MB for signing up to a service plan?

If you don't then looking from more of a Martin Lewis point of view am I better off to add a saving's account to my bank and put £46 per month in there instead perhaps?

The cost of MB services varies greatly, depending on what needs to be done to the car at the time and mileage of each service.

Prices can range from as little as £250 (for a Service A with no added items, on some cars), to well into 4-figure territory (e.g. Service B with brake fluid, spark plugs, ATF, filters, etc, on an AMG).

The Service Care Plan provides fixed-cost servicing. I.e., the price of each service under the plan is exactly the same, regardless of what is actually needed in each service. Typically, the cost of each service under the plan is roughly between £400 to £600 (depending on car model).

So choosing wisely is key. You want your fixed-cost plan to cover all of the 'big' services, and as little as possible of the 'minor' ones. Otherwise there will be little or no savings.

 

[ScottyR81]

I've just emailed my local dealership asking what they'll offer based on the mileage and year so will see what they say.

 

[ToeKnee]

You can go online for the ess (electronic service sheet) where if you put your details on it should tell you what is required next service and the cost. Mine has only recently shown accurate job list and I have approx 100 days till service.

 

[markjay]

You can go online for the ess (electronic service sheet) where if you put your details on it should tell you what is required next service and the cost. Mine has only recently shown accurate job list and I have approx 100 days till service.

And you can also get instant service quotes from MB dealers in your area using an online tool:

Online appointment booking | Mercedes-Benz

Book appointments for a main inspection or another service at a workshop near you – conveniently and online with Mercedes-Benz appointment booking. Find a date that suits you right now!

www.mymercedesservice.co.uk

(It will provide quotes before proceeding to actually booking the service)

 

[ToeKnee]

Thanks @markjay that service booking one was the one I meant, not ess. Glad you're keeping an eye on me! Sorry op for the wrong advice.

 

[GeeJayW]

Our C250d is on a Service Plan, mainly just to spread the cost across the year. It's been quite seamless thus far.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

And remember that the published rate for a PAYG service for MBs online quote doesn't necessarilty include all the items required at that time / mileage - eg a quote for a B service won't include ATF change, brake fluid change, plugs, pollen filter etc...

The online quote might be, say £500 but the actual cost could be well it 4 figures...the service plan includes all the above for a simple fixed fee. As others have said, you may be overpaying for a A service but you get that back on larger services - hence the best pattern is B-A-service.

MB don't make it easy but it is worth spending some time researching what you will need.

For an '18 plate, it is probably due a B service now?

 

[KennyN]

If you take out the service plan do you have faith in the dealer you are going to be using for the work ?

I took out the plan with my CLS but was bitterly disappointed in the work (or not) that was done at the chosen local dealer , other dealers in the area had a similar woeful Google ratings and i wasn`t prepared to travel the country to find one that i could trust to do what they were charging for.

K

 

[Deleted member 149005]

The service plan is with MB not the dealer- you can choose a different dealer each time

 

[Deleted member 126251]

If you take out the service plan do you have faith in the dealer you are going to be using for the work ?

I took out the plan with my CLS but was bitterly disappointed in the work (or not) that was done at the chosen local dealer , other dealers in the area had a similar woeful Google ratings and i wasn`t prepared to travel the country to find one that i could trust to do what they were charging for.

K

I have a service plan. Can go to any MB dealer. The plan is with MB UK.

 

[KennyN]

I have a service plan. Can go to any MB dealer. The plan is with MB UK.

I know but other local dealers had pi$$ poor ratings for their work plus working shifts with a young family i could not dedicate the time to travel the country to get someone i could trust to do what i was paying on average £500 pa.

With hindsight i should have went with my local recommended Indy , they were similar priced to the MD over the 48 month contract but had a far better rating for their work.

K

 

[markjay]

And remember that the published rate for a PAYG service for MBs online quote doesn't necessarilty include all the items required at that time / mileage - eg a quote for a B service won't include ATF change, brake fluid change, plugs, pollen filter etc...

The online quote might be, say £500 but the actual cost could be well it 4 figures...the service plan includes all the above for a simple fixed fee. As others have said, you may be overpaying for a A service but you get that back on larger services - hence the best pattern is B-A-service.

MB don't make it easy but it is worth spending some time researching what you will need.

For an '18 plate, it is probably due a B service now?

When you enter your car's VIN and mileage, the online quote will bring-up the cost of the base service (A or B), and also the itemised cost of any 'Additional items' (e.g. ATF, filters, etc). So you do get an overall quote of what the car is due.

However, this will obviously depend on you car's particular service history, e.g. if you have recently replaced any of the additional items for whatever reason then they won't need doing again etc.